Iraqi restaurant hit by suicide bomber

Thursday, December 11, 2008

A suicide bombing in Iraq has killed at least 55 people and injured at least 120 more, according to local police. The suicide bomber struck at a restaurant located about 2 miles north of the ethnically mixed city of Kirkuk on Thursday morning. The Abdullah restaurant, where the explosion took place, is popular among Kurdish officials. The attack comes on the Muslim religious holiday Eid al-Adha, known in English as the “Festival of Sacrifice”.

At the time the restaurant was struck, it was full of families marking the final day of Eid. Five women and three children were among the dead.

Kirkuk is the scene of ongoing ethnic tensions, although the reasons for this attack in particular are currently unknown.

Salam Abdullah, 45, was one of the people in the restaurant at the time of the attack. “I held my wife and led her outside the place. As we were leaving, I saw dead bodies soaked with blood and huge destruction,” he stated, commenting on his experiences. “We waited outside the restaurant for some minutes. Then an ambulance took us to the hospital.”

Awad al-Jubouri, who was injured in the incident, condemned the bombers. “I do not know how a group like al-Qaida claiming to be Islamic plans to attack and kill people on sacred days like Eid. We were only meeting to discuss our problems with the Kurds and trying to impose peace among Muslims in Kirkuk.” Jubouri is a tribal leader, who was attending a lunch that was intended to precede a meeting discussing was to lessen tensions between local communities.

Last July, an affiliated restaurant of the same name was the site of a suicide bombing which claimed the lives of six and wounded twenty five.

Want To Start Pre School | Start Your Own Playschool}

Submitted by: Niharika Baig

A playschool is meant for kids under the age of 5 and is primarily aimed at providing quality education for kindergarten kids. So if you love kids then starting a playschool may be a good idea. – See more at: http://bangalore.citizenmatters.in/articles/3686-quick-guide-to-starting-a-playschool#sthash.qwWCokkq.dpuf

You get a high degree of satisfaction working with kids and contributing to their growth and development. You help nurture a positive environment for kids where their physical and mental growth takes place seamlesslyTo attract kids and parents a playschool should be colorful and the ambience joyful. For this consider Colorful children furniture like plastic chairs, tables, and play equipments like rockers, slide etc.

Also book racks, wall hangings and staff furniture needs to be considered. Indoor activity games like puzzles, towers, alphabets and other board games. Art craft supplies like finger paints, clay, ribbon, glitter, paint brushes etc Office supplies like pencils, pens, and stationeries like CD’s, bags, markers etc. All these are subjected to your budgetary limits. You can start small and expand later. Facilities like lunch, transportation, full day care etc can be added later.

You can follow the Montessori Method of education. The Montessori Method of education is a methodology emphasising the natural learning of children and focuses both on social interaction and academics. There are other less popular education methods too like Reggio Emilia Approach and Waldorf education. – See more at: http://bangalore.citizenmatters.in/articles/3686-quick-guide-to-starting-a-playschool#sthash.qwWCokkq.dpuf

For choosing a good curriculum you can get the advice of playschool consultants, pre-school teachers or owners of established playschools. – See more at: http://bangalore.citizenmatters.in/articles/3686-quick-guide-to-starting-a-playschool#sthash.qwWCokkq.dpuf

Kinderdance programs blend educational concepts with various forms of movement, dance, and gymnastics. The programs help develop gross motor skills, movement creativity, fitness, and body awareness. Each class is taught using lesson plans which incorporate original and traditional age-appropriate music and songs.

Kinderdance offers six programs specially designed for children aged 2 – 12 years.

Kinder (Dance with Me) (15 – 24 Months)

Its curriculum offers age appropriate exposure to developmental milestones through dance and sensory-motor activities while nurturing the bond between caregiver and child. Caregivers participate and learn to facilitate the natural exploration and progression of motor development through play, laying the groundwork for academic success as the child grows.

Kindertots (age 2)

is designed to develop the total child through gross motor skills, movement creativity, physical development and body awareness while learning numbers, colors, shapes and songs.

Kinderdance (ages 3-5)

is a developmental dance, motor development and fitness program taught on 3 levels, teaching the basics of Ballet,

Tap, Acrobatics and Creative Movement while blending educational concepts.

Kindergym ( ages 3-5)

is a developmental floor gymnastics program with emphasis on fun, social and gross motor development, physical fitness and movement education while learning numbers, colors, shapes and words.

Kindermotion ( ages 3 -12)

is a developmentally designed education through motor skills, physical development, fitness, nutrition and imagery program which prepares students’ minds and bodies for athletic and academic pursuits.

Kindercombo (ages 6 – 8)

is a developmentally designed combination Ballet, Tap, Modern Dance, and Fitness program. This gives the young dance student a healthy and solid foundation upon which to build.

Getting Started

Since a Kinderdance franchise does not require real estate, construction or a large capital investment, you should actually be in business within a short time after completing your training at Kinderdance Headquarters.

Additional Benefits

You have the exclusive rights (with other Kinderdance franchisees) to use our copyrighted and trademark protected procedures, routines, marketing techniques, music, and other proprietary information so long as you are an authorized Kinderdance franchisee in good standing.

To know more about the parenting tips and preschool education programs. Visit the websites: http://www.kinderdanceindia.com/

About the Author: To know more about the parenting tips and preschool education programs. Visit the websites:

kinderdanceindia.com/

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CoolBrands: New Zealand coolest place in the world

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

New Zealand has been voted the coolest place in the world by United Kingdom brand: CoolBrands.

Coolbrands is owned by a consultancy firm in the UK, called Superbrands. It started in 2001, CoolBrands is a way of telling how ‘cool’ a brand is. Superbrands defines “brands that have become extremely desirable among many style leaders and influencers. They have a magic about them, signifying that users have an exceptional sense of taste and style.”

George Hickton, chief executive of Tourism New Zealand, said: “This win is a vindication of the recent work we’ve put in to the UK market, with the Chelsea Flower Show and our 100% Pure New Zealand advertising campaign ensuring New Zealand stays top of mind with potential travellers.”

“It’s very gratifying to see we are such a desirable destination, especially as this poll includes opinion leaders who can have an real influence on people’s travel choices.” says Mr Hickton. “this is the second award New Zealand has received in the UK this September, with Conde Nast Traveller magazine also voting New Zealand best destination this month.”

Editor of Condé Nast Traveler Magazine, Sarah Miller, called New Zealand a “point of authenticity.” And professional nation brander, Wally Olin, said “New Zealand has been very, very clever. It has turned its disadvantages into advantages.”

“Reaping the benefits of its recent marketing campaign, New Zealand is apparently the hottest place to be,” said the London News.

650 brands were chosen by researchers which were then put before 23 judges and were made available for the public, of which 1,725 people participated in an online survey. Five percent of the original 650 made it to the finals, including Morocco, Maldive and Australia.

New Zealand receives most of its tourists from Australia, closely followed by the UK.

The top ten destinations included:

  1. New Zealand
  2. Morocco
  3. Fiji
  4. Prague
  5. Australia
  6. Maldives
  7. Amsterdam
  8. Brighton
  9. Bahamas
  10. Bermuda

20 percent of Victorians drive on worn tyres

Wednesday, June 7, 2006

A survey released today by the RACV and Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce found that 20 percent of cars in Victoria have at least one worn or unroadworthy tyre.

The study looked at 1,000 cars last month and found of those 200 had at least one tyre that had worn.

Chief engineer for the RACV, Michael Case said that driving on worn tyres could increase the distance it takes a car to brake and road safety. “Increasing the braking distance can increase the chance of running into the car in front of you and having an unnecessary collision and if that collision is serious enough certainly it can cause injuries” said Mr Case.

It is widely accepted that tyres are one of the most important parts of a vehicle. As tyres are the only part of a vehicle in contact with the road, they affect acceleration, braking and cornering.

As well as the safety issues associated with driving a vehicle with a worn tyre, drivers can be fined for “driving an unsafe vehicle” and fined AUD$171, in addition police may “defect” the vehicle, restricting its use until repaired. Victorian law requires that tyres have a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm.

Wikinews investigated the average price of each tyre on a typical large and small Australian sedan, and SUV and found the cost to be AUD$129, AUD$105, and AUD$191 respectively.

Class action: Foreign workers pay thousands to obtain jobs in Canada

Thursday, September 21, 2017

The Supreme Court of British Columbia has certified a Class Action lawsuit against Mac’s Convenience Stores (Mac’s) and three immigration consultants. The case involves 450 foreign workers who allege they were enticed to come to Canada with promises of jobs. Each of the workers paid a fee of up to $8,500 to the consultants for a job with Mac’s. The Class Action lawsuit was certified on Monday by Justice Arne Silverman.

The jobs were offered to the workers under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program which specifies that fees for job placements must be paid by the employer. The government has not laid charges in this matter.

One of the plaintiffs, Prakash Basyal, says he met one of the defendants at a job fair in Dubai. He interviewed with a representative of Mac’s and signed a two-year contract for a low wage cashier’s job in Edmonton, Alberta, and paid the agreed fee of $8,000. After he quit his job in Abu Dhabi, he arrived in Vancouver, British Columbia and received a permit allowing him to work for Mac’s, but was told the job he contracted for was not available. He was then left with no choice but support himself working illegally at a bottle depot in Calgary where he was discovered by Canada Border Services Agency and arrested. He was handcuffed, detained and humiliated.

Lawyers representing the workers claimed that abuses under the Program are common. They say this leaves foreign workers vulnerable. The defendants declined comment.

In August the NDP government of British Columbia proposed a registry of temporary foreign workers.

[edit]

Saudis boycott Danish dairy produce

Friday, January 27, 2006

On January 26, 2006, a massive boycott of dairy produce from Arla Foods started in Saudi Arabia over what is perceived as a Danish attack on Muslim values. The Saudi ambassador to Denmark has been recalled for consultations.

The Danish/Swedish dairy company Arla is facing a massive loss after a spreading boycott of its produce in Saudi Arabia. Four Saudi retail chains have already removed Arla products from the shelves. One retail chain has placed yellow warning tape (common fare for accidents and crime scenes) over Arla products. There have been cases reported of Arla delivery trucks being attacked by stones thrown from bystanders. Marianne Castenskiold, a senior consultant for Dansk Industri, expressed a fear that the boycott will spread to other countries in the region and have detrimental effects on other Danish products. Denmark is one of the leading exporters of agriculture in northern Europe, whose economy is heavily dependent on foreign trade and investment.

The boycott has been announced at Friday prayer services in Saudi mosques since January 20, 2006, obviously helping to foment popular support of the nation’s response to Denmark’s alleged ignorance of Muslim values. On at least one occasion, a delivery truck has been greeted by thrown stones.

The boycott is a response to the publication of an article in a major Danish newspaper, Jyllands-Posten. In its September 30, 2005 issue, the paper printed 12 drawings of the Muslim prophet Muhammed, as a response to previous news reports that the publisher of a forthcoming childrens’ book about the prophet had had difficulty in finding an illustrator, due to fear of extremist reactions; drawings of the prophet are prohibited by Islamic Law (see aniconism). In an attempt to start a debate over freedom of speech in Denmark, the newspaper printed 12 drawings of the prophet. Four of these were of a satirical nature, with one showing the prophet with a turban hiding a lit bomb.

The immediate reactions to the publication of the drawings included ambassadors from 12 Muslim countries demanding that the Danish Prime Minister, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, denounce the newspaper. Rasmussen rejected this demand, stating that “Danish freedom of speech does not allow the government to control what newspapers print”. He further noted that the only possible legal action against the newspaper would be one under the charge of blasphemy.

A debate ensued over the following months about freedom of speech and its value in relation to avoiding religious taboos. In mid-December 2005, a delegation from several Danish Muslim organizations went on a tour in several Middle-Eastern and Arabic countries, reportedly to gain sympathy for their point of view. Several reports state that during the tour the difficulties faced by Muslims in Denmark were grossly overstated.

Record Breaking Kitesurfing Challenge Across The Bristol Channel}

Submitted by: Kiteboarding Stuff

In the name of extreme sports and competition, we bring you another chapter and event to see this year. This race combines the extreme elements of weather, sports and competition in both land and sea. Now comes the high tech boost of 3D printing that are made for kitesurfers who are about to race across the Bristol Channel this week, aiming to beat the drivers on the land for the very first time.

Its also an event that aims to change the way kiteboards are made in general knowledge. The students of University of Wales TSD Swansea, who also takes part of this extraordinary event, take off with this competition in which they also aim for making a history in the world of sport with their skills in modifying boards with 3d printed parts. It is a process in which it has the ability to transform the artistry and manufacturing of kitesurfing equipment into a whole new image.

As it is aiming to promote better extreme kitesurfing sport, it is also designed to promote the first extreme sports engineering design course that is created by the students of University of Wales Trinity Saint David Swansea, while on the other hand, the project is also designed to promote some lightning fast kiting experience. The students of the said university collaborated with Stratasys by using their Fortus 3D Production System that helps modify the design of the boards to use. It will help send students flying across the channel with the power of 3D printing technology behind them. It will be an amazing event to witness.

Dr. Ross Head, the Product Design Manager for Cerebra at the University of Wales TSD Swansea, explains the use of 3D printing technology with kitesurfing, The use of 3D printing in product design, and especially in the extreme sport market, is revolutionizing the manufacturing process and the speed to which companies can bring new products to market. We wanted our students to witness this first hand. Dr. Ross Head is also one of the kitesurfers who are into the challenge to cross the Bristol Channel.

With the University of Wales TSD Swansea students collaborated with the help from Stratasys, they have come up with the goals of great control, speed and technical reliability. Aside from that, they also have:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLO9mgx7CL8[/youtube]

1. 3D printed fins, offering better size, shape, and angles to catch the wind.

2. Carbon fiber wrapping for rigidity and improved, lighter weight, and higher traveling speed.

3. 3D printed inserts to attach the foot straps to the board, designed to achieve the maximum strength possible as they are glued into the foam core.

For the competition to begin, there are five kitesurfers who will be competing against another group of individuals who will be doing their kitesurfing skills on land. They will also traveling the same destination in a standard Japanese hybrid car. The contest is expected to last several hours, depending on wind and water conditions. And aside from that, it will be an event that everyone is not expecting at all. For 3D printing the new and improved parts, they employed two Stratasys Fortus 250mc 3D Production Systems in collaboration with Stratasys reseller, Laser Lines. We redesigned the boards fins using a quad configuration with parts 3D printed using PC-ABS. These new fins provide us with improved lateral grip in the water and the ability to make quick turns. On the underside of the boards, we also designed a very flat rocker line, which means that the boards plane easily and achieve much higher speeds. When you put all of these improvements together, they contribute towards considerable performance gains, explained by Dr. Ross Head.

It will be an event full of fun and exciting adventure. Aside from that, it will be a lifetime collegiate experience, in both intellectual and experiential endeavor for the students of the University of Wales will learn more about proper:

1. Design

2. Manufacturing

3. Commercial market challenges

4. Career options

Are you looking forward to seeing this event? We will all be surprised of how this event will turn out real soon. See you all there folks!

About the Author: Our kiteboardingstuff team is obsessed with extreme sports and we’re focused on providing competitive prices on kiteboarding equipment. We aim to provide a memorable experience when you shop on our online store, offering quality products with top-rated customer service.We’ve been kiting, and surfing, for the last few years in San Diego, California, and we absolutely love being headquartered just blocks away from the ocean. And we have a fantastic team here helping us with

KiteboardingStuff.com

to bring you the best customer service possible.

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Grand National winning horse ‘Comply or Die’ dies, aged 17

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Comply or Die, the racehorse who won the 2008 Grand National has died at the age of 17. His death was announced by his former trainer, David Pipe. He died over at the weekend in Gloucestershire, where he had been staying with jockey Timmy Murphy. He was cremated on Monday and his ashes will return to Murphy.

Murphy was the jockey in the saddle when Comply or Die won the 2008 Grand National. Speaking to the Press Association, he spoke about the horse’s death. He said, “He was part of the furniture at home so it’s very sad. He gave me the greatest day of my career, obviously that can never be taken away. He paraded at Cheltenham and Aintree and was getting ready to do some dressage in the summer. I’m not actually sure how he died, to be honest, but it wasn’t nice to come home to. He was cremated on Monday. He was a happy horse and he was also very clever.”

During his racing career he made £798,809 in prize-money after winning a total of eight races.

The 2008 Grand National victory was his greatest achievement and he almost matched it when he came second place in 2009. He retired in 2011 but remained active, often being paraded at race grounds such as Aintree and Cheltenham. He also participated in some hunting activities. Pipe said, “Since his retirement he had been a lead-horse at Timmy Murphy’s establishment before trying his hand at dressage, a discipline in which he had proven very successful”.

Tributes have been paid to Comply or Die on social media by horse racing fans with several tweeting their appreciation and memories.

Libya releases four foreign journalists

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Wednesday saw Libya release four journalists, detained for six weeks and, accused of entering the country illegally. The two Americans, one British, and Spanish correspondents were taken to Tripoli’s Rixo hotel upon their release.

James Foley, Clare Morgana Gillis, Nigel Chandler and Spanish photographer Manu Brabo were captured on April 4 by Muammar al-Gaddafi’s military; the day prior to their release, a suspended sentence of one year and $154 fine were imposed for their illegal entry to Libya.

Moussa Ibrahim, a government spokesman, said the detainees are free to stay and carry on reporting in Libya or, if they requested to leave, could be escorted to the Tunisian border. Claiming their detention was due to confusion over the journalists’ identities, and citing foreign combatants fighting with rebel forces, as the cause of the mix-up, Ibrahim offered an apology and stated that, as journalists, they are harmless.

The journalists worked for The New York Times, GlobalPost, the Atlantic, USA Today, and the BBC. The fate of South African photographer Anton Hammerl is still unclear and he is believed to be still missing.

The foreign journalists were held in different detention centres around Tripoli and refused contact with the outside world.

The conflict between uprising rebel forces and Gaddafi’s Libyan government continues from February this year.

Under the UN, NATO forces are currently carrying out air strikes across Libya recently focussing attacks in Tripoli. Aiming to protect civillians from Col Muammer Gaddafi trying to quash the anti-government rebellion.